Label-free, Fluorescenece Detection of DNA Nanoparticle Scaffolds

We have developed a nanoparticle-based DNA biosensor that can detect unlabelled ssDNA with good sensitivity (picomolar concentrations). The biosensor makes use of the optical changes of a cationic polymer interacting with ssDNA versus that of hybridized DNA to provide a fluorescence signal only when a specific hybridization event occurs (i.e. only when perfectly complementary DNA is present)